Rotary plow depth control device



March 2, 1954 I F. KONIG ROTARY PLOW usPm'coN'moL DEVICE} '3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 28. 1949 FIG ' mv uToR FRANZ K HIS ATTORNEYS March 2, 1954 F. KCNIG 2,670,668

ROTARY PLOW DEPTH CONTROL DEVICE Filed Jan.,28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIOR FRHNZ wbu IQ l-ns' ATTORNEYS Abe/ March 2, 1954 I J b I 2,670,668 I I ROTARY PLOW DEPTH CONTROL "DEVICE Filed Jan. 28, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet s [-16 9 GJ so so F|G.|

GROUND LEVEL BOTTOM OF FURROW mvsmga FRANZ KbUlG- HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 2, 1954 ROTARY PLOW DEPTH CONTROL DEVICE Franz Kiinig, Unterach am Attersee, Austria, as-

signor of one-half to Ernest Oscar Mueller, alias Oskar Ernst Muller, Unterach am Attersee, Austria Application January 28, 1949, Serial No. 73,368

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in and the simplification of the construction of motor plows in order to produce a substantial saving in power required to operate such motor plows as compared with motor plows now known.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to produce a motor plow having a circular plowshare in the form of an air screw, whereby said plowshare will turn up and cut up the soil to loosen the same and render it ready for plantmg.

Another object is to provide av circular plowshare having one or more blades shaped in the form of a screw, made of a. hard durable material, such as steel, said plowshare being rotatable transversely to the direction of movement of the motor plow.

A further object is to provide such'a circular type of plowshare which is adjustable at will for any plowing depth.

Another object is to provide a motor plow with the above type of circular plowshare having a screw lead sufiicient to force the plow forwardly as the circular plowshare is rotated by the motor.

A further object i-s'to provide a motor plow with a circular screw-shaped plowshare, which propels the plow forwardly as the plowshare rotates and plows or tills the soil.

A still further object is to provide a motor plow with means for casting aside and smoothing the soil after it is broken up by the circular plowshare.

Another object is to provide a motor plow with a rotating device. for casting aside the soil after it is broken up by the circular plowshare.

A still further object is to provide a motor plow with a device for smoothing the soil which has been thrown aside by a casting device.

One form of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the entire machine through its longitudinal axis, said section including the reduction gear, the motor and gas tank being shown in full.

Fig. is a top plan view of the motor plow.

Fig. 3 is a rear view, in reduced scale, of the circular plowshare and also shows the soil casting fingers or springs, the screw shape of the propeller-like plowshare being indicated by shadmg.

Fig. 4 is a left side elevation of the left half of the circular propeller-like plowshares.

Fig. 5 is a left side elevation of the right half of the circular propeller-like plowshare.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged vertical section of the arresting or retaining device for, maintaining the plow handles in anydesired height of adjustment relative to the ground.

Fig- '7 is a partial view of the mechanism by which the plow can be set horizontally when the right running wheel is running in a furrow during the plowing.

Fig. 8 is a rear view, in enlarged scale, of-the drive disk on the drive shaft operated by the motor through the reduction gearing, said: drive disk having a flexible drive and shock-absorbing area by means of which the plowshare shaft is driven.

Fig. 9 is a rear view, in reduced scale, of a part of the motor plow showing the positions of the Wheels, the plowshare blades, the soil casters, and the smoothing flap when the second furrow is being made by the plow.

Fig. 10 is an edge view, in reduced scale, of the soil-smoothing flap. i

Fig. 11 is a plan view, in reduced scale, of the soil-smoothing flap.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary side elevation, in reduced scale, showing the position of the plow when the right wheel is running in a furrow and the left wheel is on th ground level.

Fig. 13 is a rear view, in reduced scale, showing the positions of the crank-shaped axles of the wheels, the framework, and the wheels when the right wheel is running in a furrow.

Detailed description In Figs. 1 and 2 there is shown a frame I which constitutes a base on which the other parts of the motor plow are mounted. A motor 2 for driving the plowshare is carried by the frame I at the front end thereof. Secured to the frame are bearings 3 and 4. The bearing3. supports one end. of a wheel axle in the form of a crank. having stub ends 5 and connected by a link 48. The stub end 5 rides in the bearing 3 and the right wheel 8 rides on the stub end'50 of the wheel axle. The stub end 5 extends all the way across the frame I to support an arm 5| the purpose of which will be later described. The bearing 4. supports one end of a wheel axle in. the form of a crank, having stub ends 6 and 49, connected by a link 41. The stub end 6 rides in the bearing 4', and the left wheel I rides on the stub end 49 of the wheel axle.

The frame I also supports ball bearings 9 and III, which in turn support .a drive shaft II for the plowshare. The drive shaft II is tapered at its rear end to receive a hub I2 to which is secured the circular plowshare, which is comprised of two blades I3 and I4 (Figs. 3, 4 and 5') formed to produce a screw-shaped or propeller-like plowshare. A nut I8 (Fig. 1) threaded on the end of the drive shaft II forces the plowshare hub I2 tightly on the shaft II and retains it there.

Also secured to the plowshare hub are springs I5, which act as soil casters to cast or throw the upturned or plowed soil to the right. during the plowing operation.

A safety or protecting hood I6 secured tov the frame by screws (Fig. 1, only one of which is shown) covers the upper half of the circular plowshare and the casting springs l5.

Connected to the lower right edge of the safety hood I6 by a hinge I8 is a soil smoothing flap IS, the purpose of which will be later described.

Plow depth adjustment Plow handles and 23a (Figs. 1 and 2) are pivoted, for vertical movement, to the frame I, near the front thereof, by means of pivot joints 2| and 2|a. The handles 20 and 20a are connected, near their front ends, by a hitch bar 22, pivoted on bolts 28 and 28a carried by the handles '20 and 20a, respectively. A tie bar also connects the handles 20 and 20a. The handle 20 has a hand grip 23 and the handle 230: has a hand grip 24.

A hitch bar 26 is pivoted to the frame I by bolts 2'! and 21a carried by said frame I. The hitch bar 22 is necessarily pivotally mounted on the handles 20 and 23a because of the vertical adjustment of said handles.

A pair of cross bars and 3|, pivotally connected at their centers by a bolt 29, are pivoted by means of bolts 32 and 32a to the hitch bars 22 and 26, respectively, near the right ends of said hitch bars. These cross bars 34 and 3| carry bolts 33a and 33, respectively, which project through, and are adapted to slide in slots 34a and 34 in the hitch bars 25 and 22, respectively. Thus, when the handles 2|! and 23a are vertically adjusted about their pivot joints 2| and 2 la, respectively, the hitch bar 22 pivots on its bolts 28 and 28a, and the hitch bar 23 pivots on its bolts 21 and 21a, and at the same time the cross bars 30 and 3| pivot about their common pivot bolt 29 and about their respective pivot bolts 32 and 32a, respectively.

As previouslystated, the handles 2|! and 20a are vertically adjustable about their pivot joints 2| and 2 la, respectively, in order to set the handle grips 23 and 24 in any desired position relative to the ground. Such adjustment is for the purpose of positioning the plow handle grips 23 and 24 the proper distance from the ground, depending upon the height of the person who is operating the plow. For example, for a short person the handle grips should be lower than for a tall person so that whichever one is operating the plowhis arms can be in a. downward position, in which it is much easier to operate the plow and very much less tiresome on the person.

Thus, the desired plowing depth is easily obtained, due to the fact that the grip handles 23 and 24 may be lowered to a position whereby the operator's arms are in a position so that he can exert the proper downward pressure on the handle grips 23 and 24, thus maintaining the circular plowshare blades 13 and M the desired depth in the ground whereby a constant desired plowing depth is the ultimate result.

Also, the plowing depth may be altered while the operator is in the act of plowing, by means to be described.

It is, therefore, very desirable to arrest and positively retain the plow handles in whatever position they are adjusted to, and to accomplish this there is provided an arresting and retaining device (Fig. 2) which is shown in enlarged scale in Fig. 6. V

This arresting and retaining device (Fig. 2)

comprises a hull or casing 43 which houses a slidable rack 42 (Fig. 6) said casing 43 and rack '42 being adapted for movement relative to each other. The rack 42, by means of a hole 44 and the bolt 33, is connected to the cross bar 3|, and consequently by means of the bolt 33 and the slot 34, is so connected to the hitch bar 22. The hull or casing 43, by means of a hole 45 and the bolt 33a is connected to the cross bar 30, and consequently by means of the bolt 33a and the slot 34a, is also connected to the hitch bar 23.

Secured to the hull or casing 43 is a hub within which is assembled a spring-pressed bolt 39, having on the end thereof, and integral therewith, a retaining plunger 4|, projecting through a hole in the hull or casing 43, so as to normally engage one of the notches in the rack 42. With the plunger 4| so engaged with the rack 42, there can be no relative movement between the casing 43 and the rack 42, and consequently no movement of the bars 30 and 3|, and there is no movement of the plow handles 24 and 24a. A spring 48 maintains such normal engagement of the plunger 4| with the rack 42.

Connected to the bolt 39 is a flexible cable 38 (Figs. 2 and 6) which extends toward the rear of the plow underneath the handle 23a. This cable 38 is also connected to a hand-operated lever 36 pivoted to the handle 20a, adjacent the handle grip 24.

From the above description, and with particular reference to Figs. 2 and 6, it is very clear that the plowing depth may be adjusted while the operator is plowing by merely pressing the lever 38 toward the handle 24 in the direction of the arrow 37.

Such movement of the lever 36 causes the cable 33 to pull the bolt 39 to the right (Fig. 6) in the direction of the arrow 40, which withdraws the retaining plunger 4| from the notch in the rack 42 and at the same time compresses the spring 46 to put it under tension. With the lever 33 so pressed toward the handle grip 24 sufficiently to withdraw the plunger 4| from the rack 42 the operator of the plow may then raise or lower the plow handles 20 and 20a to thus raise or lower the plowshare blades l3 and I4 until the desired plowing depth is obtained, whereupon the operator releases the lever 36, and upon such release the spring 46 moves the retaining plunger 4| into the notch in the rack 42, in alinement with said plunger at that time. Should a notch of the rack 42 be not exactly in alinement with plunger 4| when the operator releases the hand lever 36, the operator merely moves the handles 23 and 20a slightly, either up or down until the notch adjacent the plunger 4| arrives or alines itself with said plunger whereupon it will automatically enter said notch under pressure of the tensioned spring 43 and thus retain the handles 24 and 20a in their adjusted positions and also maintain the plowshare plates l3 and M in the desired plowing depth position into which they have been adjusted by the handles 23 and 20a.

Thus, it is possible to control the depth of the furrow by raising or lowering the handle grips 23 and 24 relative to the ground.

During the time the handles 23 and 20a are being adjusted the cross bars 33 and 3| turn on their pivot bolt 29 and either widen or narrow the distance between the bolts 33 and 33a, the latter causing relative movement between the hull or casing 43 and the rack 42 of the arresting and retaining device 35. The bolts 33 and 33a also slide in the slots 34 and 34a of the hitch bars 22 and 25, respectively, as said bars are moved nearer 0 one another or moved farther apart.

apropos While plowing the first furrow, the plow is in a horizontal or level position because both wheels 1 and -8 are running on the same level of unplowed ground. However, while plowing the second and succeeding furrows, the left wheel will still be running on the unplowed ground but the light wheel will be running in the last plowed furrow (Figs. 9, 12 and 13), and if no wheel adjustment could be made the plow would be out oflcvcl sideways and in an oblique or slanting position. In such position the right sides of the brim of the wheels would tend. to out in the ground. and produce a drag or resistance to the forward motion of the plow, plus slowing up the plowing operation. Moreover such slanting sideways of the plow would, due to the fact that the handle grip 23 would be much lower than the handle grip 24, make the steering and feeding of the plow very diiiicult and very tiresome for the operator.

Therefore, to overcome all of the above disadvantages there is provided a means to change the horizontal positions of: the axles of the wheels 1 and 8 with relation to their normal horizontal positions shown in Fig. 1, thus causing the plow to assume a level or horizontal position, sideways, and at the same. time causing the handle grips 23 and 2 1 to be on the same level from side to side while plowing the second and succeeding furrows. In other words, the wheel 1 may be raised and the wheel '8 lowered with relation to the frame 1 into the positions'shown in Figs. 9, 12 and 13.

Such means is shown particularly in Fig. 7 and will now be described. The bearing 3 for the long stub end 5 of the axle of the wheel 8 is mounted at the front end of the frame i and the leg 48 of the axle extends toward the rear of the plow, as shown in Figs. 1 and 12, whcreas the bearing '4 for the stub end 6 of the axle of the wheel 1 is mounted further back on the frame I and the leg 41 of this axle extends toward the front of the plow. With this construction, the stubs 49 and 50, on which the Wheels 1 and 8, respectively, are mounted, are in axial alinement when the plow wheels are on level ground, and the axle legs 41 and 48 are in horizontal positions as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Secured to the stub end 5 of the axle for the wheel 8 is a lever 51 (Figs. 2 and '1) and secured to the stub end 6 of the axle for the wheel 1 is a. lever 52. Pivoted to the lovers 5| and 52, by means of bolts 54 and 55 (:Fig. 2) is a tie bar, 53. Integral with the lever 52 is a manually operable lever 56 having pivoted thereto by a bolt 51, a

hand lever 58, to which is connected 2. cable '59, which is also connected to a spring-operated retaining pawl 81, pivoted on a bolt 60 carried by said lever 52. This spring-operated retaining pawl 6! normally engages a. notch in a segmental rack 62 rigidly secured to the frame I, and is held insuch engagement with said notch by a spring 64.

When theoperator moves the hand lever upwardly in the direction of the arrow 63 the cable 59 rocks the pawl BI counter-clockwise and disengages it from the rack 62, whereupon the manually operable lever may be moved up or down from a normal position. Such normal position is obtained when the retaining pawl Si is in engagement with the middle uotch in the rack 52'. Movement of the manually operable,

lever 56 from such normal position, through the levers 5'2 5i, and the tie bar 53, causes the stub ends 5 and 5 of the axles ofshe wheels 8 and '1 to in their respective bearings 3 and 4, thus moving the stub ends 5| and 49, and conscquently the wheels 8 and 1 relative to each other and relative to the rrame 1, either up or down, depending upon the direction of movement or the lever 56.

In Fig. 7 the lever 55 is shown as having been moved down, thus raising the stub end 49 of the axle for the wheel 1 and lowering the stub end 511 of the axle for the wheel. 8. Thus the ends 49 and 50 and wheels 1- and 8' respectively are moved into the positions shown in Figs. 9,.12 and 13. With the wheels 3 and 8 in such positions, the wheel 8 run in a plowed furrow, and the wheel 1 can run on the level unplowed ground, and the frame 1 and plow handles 20 and 2th will be maintained in a level position sideways. Therefore, the plowshare' blades 13 and M will function properly to plow up the ground and at the same time propel the plow forwardly without any undue strain either on the plow or on the operator. The segment rack 62, having a plurality of notches, provides for variable adjustment of the wheels 1 and 8. Such adjustment will conform to the working depth of the last plowed furrow because when the wheel 8 rests on the bottom of the furrow, the operator releases the hand lever 58, then the spring 64 attached to the retaining pawl 8| will rock the pawl 6| clockwise and cause it to engage the nearest notch of the rack 62, thus retaining the plow, including the frame 1 and handles 25 and 20a inahorizontal working position.

Motor drive means To drive the plowshare drive shaft N there is provided an air-cooled, two-cycle gasoline ongine or motor 2,. which is secured to the frame I by screws 65. A flexible cable 61 runs from a carburetor 58 and is connected to the handle grip 23-, which is mounted to turn, to thus, through the cable 61, to control the carburetor valve to supply the proper amount of gasoline to the motor 2. A gas tank 65 is secured to the motor 2.

A reduction gear device isprovided intermediate the motor and the drive shaft H. Fig. 1 shows a gear wheel 69 of the reduction gear device, which device is secured to the'motor 2. This gear wheel 69 is directly on the motor shaft 11). A'countershaft 1| mounted in ball bearings has secured to it a larger gear wheel 12 which runs in oil and transfers the power from the motor shaft 10- ton disk 13 also secured to the countershaft 1|. .A washer 14- retains the oil in the reduction gear case.

To avoid damage to the motor, the driving gears, .and other parts of the plow,. which might occur through improper handling under an excessive, heavy load when starting, or when the plowshare strikes an excessive heavy resistance, there is provided a shear pin 15 (Figs. 1 and 2) fastened in a flange 15: secured 'to the plowshare drive shaft ll. This shear pin 15 extends into a flexible shock absorber 11,, such as rubber, embedded in the. disk 13, which it will be recalled is secured to the countershaft 11, thus providing an elastic or flexible drive between the countershaft 1| and the'plowsharodrive shaft H,

, Fig.8 isa rear view ofith'o disk 13 showing the rubber shock absorber 11 as a ring embedded in the: disk 13 and. retained therein by a ring 11a. To eliminate the possibility of any lateral shifting of the driving elements which might occur when power is transferred from the disk 13 to the disk 16 and shaft ll, said shaft l l, as shown in Fig. 1, extends through the disk 16 and fits in a bore in the disk 13.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 9, the propeller-like plowshare blades [3 and I4 and the earth casting springs l5 rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, which throw the plow dirt off to the right of the plow. Said springs l5 may be assembled in the reverse direction and the propeller-like plowshare blades may be formed so as to turn clockwise when plowing. Thus the plowed ground would be cast off to the left.

However, in the form shown for illustrating the invention, the motor 2, through the reduction gearing, drives the shaft ll counter-clockwise whereupon the-plowshare blades 13' and I4 are so driven, and since said plowshare blades are formed like a screw propeller, they, without any separate driving mechanism, propel the plow forwardly during the plowing operation. Since the front end of the shaft H has a bearing in the disk 13, the bearing 9 might well be formed as a thrust bearing, for intercepting the forward pressure of the drive shaft l l.

As the soil is plowed up by the plowsha-re blades l3 and 14, it is thrown or cast to the right by the casting springs l5, as shown in Fig. 9, which also aid in the further breaking up of the soil (represented by the dots in Fig. 9). The plowed and broken up soil is cast against the underside of the soil smoothing flap l9, which is dragged alongside of the plow as the plow moves toward the left as viewed in Figs. 1, 2 and 12. The flap H) has a turned down brim 19 along the back angular edge thereof. This angular turned down brim l9 helps to further break up, distribute, and smooth the plowed soil.

The front edge of the smoothing flap I!) has a turned up brim 80 along its entire length to provide for easy gliding of the flap [9 over the plowed ground, and thus prevent any digging in of the flap during the forward motion of the plow.

To put the motor 2 into gear a crank 81 is used, while the plowshare blades [3 and M are in raised position, shown in Fig. I, above the ground. To hold the plowshare in such position there is provided a pivot supporting leg -82, which is connected with a spring 83 so that at the beginning of the forward movement of the plow it I will be released and swung upwardly into engagement with retaining springs 84. Thus, the leg 82 in the position shown in Fig. 1 permits easy starting of the motor and allows the operator to start the plow on its forward motion and gradually let the plowshare blades 13 and I4 begin the plowing action until they reach the predetermined depth at which the plowing is to be done.

What is claimed is: V

1. In a motor plow, the combination of a motor; a frame supporting said motor; a multibladed propeller-like plowshare driven by said motor; a pair of adjustable handles pivoted to said frame to adjust the plowshare for variable depths of plowing; an adjustable linkage including a bar pivoted adjacent it end to the handles, another bar pivoted adjacent its ends to the frame, and a pair of links pivotally connected to each other, and pivotally and slidably connected to said bars, said linkage being adjusted by said handles to change the angular relationship between said handles and said frame, thereby controlling the distance between the handles and the ground to be plowed; and adjustable retaining device carried by said linkage and connected to and operable by said links at their slidable points of connection to said bars to retain said handles and said linkage in any of their positions of adjustment.

2. In a motor plow, the combination of a motor; a frame supporting said motor; a multibladed propeller-like plowshare driven by said motor; a pair of adjustable handles pivoted to said frame to adjust the plowshare for variable depths of plowing; a bar having a slot and connecting said handles and pivotally mounted on each of them; a member having a slot and pivotally connected to said frame and parallel to said bar; adjustable cross links operable by adjustment of said handles, said cross links being pivoted to each other at their centers, one of said cross links being pivoted to said bar and slidably connected to said member, the other cross link being pivoted to said member and slidably connected to said bar; an adjustable retaining device connected to said cross links at the points where they are slidably connected to said bar and to said member, to retain said adjustable cross links and said handles in any position into which said cross links and said handles are moved; and a manually operable device connected to said retaining device to release the same to permit adjustment of said cross links and said handles.

3. In a motor plow, the combination of a mo tor; a frame supporting said motor; a multibladed propeller-like plowshare driven by said motor; a pair of adjustable handles pivoted to said frame to adjust the plowshare for variable depths of plowing; an adjustable linkage connecting said handles and said frame; said linkage including a, bar pivoted adjacent its end to the handles, another bar pivoted adjacent its end to the frame, and a pair of links pivotally connected to each other and pivotally and slidably connected to said bars, said linkage being adjusted by said handles to change the angular relationship between said handles and said frame, thereby controlling the distance between the handles and the ground to be plowed; and a retainin device carried by said linkage and comprising two members adapted to be moved relatively to each other upon adjustment of said bars and said links, one of said members having a series of retaining notches therein and being pivotally connected to one of said bars and to one of said links at their slidable connecting points, the other member being pivotally connected to the other bar and to the other of said links at their slidable connecting points and carrying a plunger adapted to engage any one of said notches, depending upon the relative positions into which said members have been adjusted, to retain said handles and said linkage in any of their positions of adjustment.

FRANZ KCNIG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS France Dec. 28, 1908 

